CBDT Unveils Taxpayers’ Lounge To Facilitate Compliance With Income Tax Rules

The Income Tax Department has installed a Taxpayers' Lounge in India International Trade Fair, 2021 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from November 14th to November 27th under the supervision of the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Ministry of Finance and Department of Revenue. This lounge has been established to raise awareness of the Income Tax Department's multiple services offered to taxpayers and to make compliance with the different Income Tax regulations and processes easier.

CBDT has said in an official announcement that "Shri J. B. Mohapatra, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes, New Delhi inaugurated the Taxpayers' Lounge at 14.11.2021 at Hall No. 12 in the presence of Members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, the Principal Director General of Income Tax (Administration and Tax Payer Services), the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCA), New Delhi and other senior officers of the Income Tax Department."

According to the Income Tax Department "The Taxpayers' Lounge seeks to promote an environment of trust between the Department and the taxpayers as also to educate them about the initiatives taken by the Department in recent times. Keeping this objective in mind, various activities have been organised in the Taxpayers' Lounge such as:"

i. Assistance in application for PAN/e-PAN, Aadhaar-PAN linking and PAN related queries.

ii. Assistance in e-Filing and Form 26AS (tax-credit) related queries.

iii. Providing Taxpayer Information Series brochures on various topics, available both in e-format and paper format.

iv. Virtual Reality Game and Video Car Game conveying the importance of paying Income Tax, to younger age-group visitors, in an engaging manner.

v. NukkadNatak, Quiz shows, Magic shows, live caricature drawing and drawing/painting competitions for children etc. on the themes of taxation and nation-building for the present and future taxpayers visiting the Trade Fair.

The Income Tax Department has also clarified that "The lounge will also be utilized for obtaining feedback about the problems being faced by the taxpayers. The lounge is, therefore, not only a focused outreach program but also a platform for exhibiting the service-oriented approach of the Department."

However, taxpayers should be aware that during interactions in the Taxpayers' Lounge, all COVID standards will be maintained strictly.